LT1 Based Engine Tech 1993-1997 LT1/LT4 Engine Related

Tip for stuck ground cable?

Old 08-05-2014, 07:42 PM
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Tip for stuck ground cable?

The ground on the passenger side motor mount....

It has a bolt that goes into the mount and the cable is held down with a nut.

The problem is that the nut on top holding down the cable is turning the entire bolt that is bolted into the mount. I really can't think of a way to free just the nut.

I'm sure I'm not the first person this has happened to, so does anybody have any tips? This is the nut.
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Old 08-05-2014, 08:55 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

You are probably going to need a thin end wrench to hold the bolt "head" between the terminal and the mount. If yours isn't thin enough, unscrew the whole thing until you can get a wrench in there.
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Old 08-05-2014, 08:57 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

Originally Posted by GaryDoug
You are probably going to need a thin end wrench to hold the bolt "head" between the terminal and the mount. If yours isn't thin enough, unscrew the whole thing until you can get a wrench in there.
Problem is though with the cable on there, the cable twists along with it. You can only get 1/4 turn and then it starts to bind. I need to separate the nut from the bolt somehow.

I may have to cut the cable.
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Old 08-05-2014, 10:13 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

Any way to wedge the ground terminal ring? That might help.
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Old 08-06-2014, 07:53 AM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

Originally Posted by shoebox
Any way to wedge the ground terminal ring? That might help.
Maybe....i will have to try again when I get home. It's difficult to get anything in there. Am I making a mistaken trying to approach this from the front of the vehicle? If I could get an impact on there I could probably get it to yank off.
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Old 08-06-2014, 07:58 AM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

Have you applied something like PB Blaster?
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:51 AM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

Originally Posted by Injuneer
Have you applied something like PB Blaster?
Yeah I used "faster." It's the same type of thing. The problem is tho that the bolt that is on the mount breaks loose easily. The nut on top is where the seize is. If I could get a wrench onto the bolt I could definitely get it off but it's too tight f a clearance to get anything on it.
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Old 08-06-2014, 11:56 AM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

I was thinking the ground strap lug might be easier to break loose if you could jam it, and it had a bit of "lube" on it,.
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Old 08-06-2014, 12:13 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

I had the same thing happen. Unfortunately mine broke from trying it too many times with different things. I ended up putting on a new connector.
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Old 08-06-2014, 05:08 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

take a angle grinder with a thin blade or a hack saw and cut across the top to form a groove for a flat bladed screw driver.
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:52 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

Speaking of grinders.... take an expendable end wrench and grind it thinner to get on the "head" of the bolt.
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Old 08-06-2014, 09:53 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

My thought as well Pizza Man, just take a grinder and grind the nut off if you have room!
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Old 08-07-2014, 06:51 AM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

Originally Posted by DocJhn
My thought as well Pizza Man, just take a grinder and grind the nut off if you have room!
There is barely room for a socket let alone a grinder.

I think the best idea thus far is grinding down an expendable wrench to get onto the main bolt. I think I have a 9/16th that I've already hacked up in the past. Maybe that will fit on there.
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Old 08-07-2014, 06:53 AM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

That's what cheap Chinese wrenches are good for. If it's too tight you may have to bend the head a little too.
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Old 08-07-2014, 08:08 PM
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Re: Tip for stuck ground cable?

I ended up buying another battery ground cable and running it to the other motor mount. I cleaned it up real nice so the connection should be good.

I figured it wouldn't hurt to leave the other ground connected and just double them up at the battery.

Hopefully this fixes the slow crank when warm issue. I replaced my alternator, added another ground cable, and took my sanding wheel to every last ground connection on the car to where everything is shiny.

If the problem persists, I guess I'll replace the battery.
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